In 2010, the Tea Party was all the rage. Pundits were speculating on what effect the movement would have on state and federal elections. But we are well into the presidential campaign season, the conventions are just around the corner, and yet the Tea Party is strangely silent.

What happened to the movement? Have its goals and values been absorbed into the G.O.P.? Or was it always the Republican Party in disguise?

The Slimes, in their inherently inimical way headlines the subject of the Tea Party in this article more in the form of an obituary than anything else. Notwithstanding the source, analysis of this forum, the political whereabouts, status of the Tea Party is a legitimate concern, topic for us all and would very much want to hear what FReepers have to say on this subject.

I think the Times has a point; I’m willing to bet there are entire areas of Manhattan where the Tea Party is all but nonexistent. I would expect that sort of coverage from a local paper like the Times.

One mistake certain pundits make is even trying to analyze the strength of the Tea Party.

Although there are "brick and mortar" Tea Party groups out there, IMO most T.P.ers are under the radar as far as being analyzed and counted. Those big gatherings in DC and elsewhere prior to Obamacare might have represented 10% or fewer of Tea Partiers due to distance or schedule. No one, including the NYT, can know the strength of this movement.

My guess is that those POed folks haven't gone anywhere, but are biding their time (as someone said upthread) waiting to vote in November.

9
posted on 06/25/2012 2:30:45 PM PDT
by SnuffaBolshevik
(In a tornado, even turkeys can fly.)

To me, the Tea "Party" was, is, and ever shall be a hostile takeover of the Republican Party.

The relationship between the Republican Party and the Tea Party is like a tiger and someone riding it. The tiger might go in the right direction if you hit it hard enough, but it will always be resentful and turn on you the second you loosen hold on its reins.

Getting rid of Lugar gave the tiger a big smack in the head and it snarled quite a bit about it.

10
posted on 06/25/2012 2:32:46 PM PDT
by KarlInOhio
(You only have three billion heartbeats in a lifetime.How many does the government claim as its own?)

To me, the Tea “Party” was, is, and ever shall be a hostile takeover of the Republican Party.
We will know we have won when the platforms and statements coming out or the GOP mirror the TEA attitudes on issues.

As usual, the Opposition and their supporting Enemedia will entirely fail to get it and will assume the Tea Party is moribund.

Problem is look what Romney did in MA. He might be for free markets, but keep studying him and you will be surprised. (Don’t tell anyone I told you to look into who Romney reall is. The GOP, several establishment people and Romney himself, wants to TELL you who he is. Don’t look behind the curtain) I’m praying for a miracle at the convention.

The Tea Party movement is a grassroots movement of millions of like-minded Americans from all backgrounds and political parties. Tea Party members share similar core principles supporting the United States Constitution as the Founders intended, such as:
 Limited federal government
 Individual freedoms
 Personal responsibility
 Free markets
 Returning political power to the states and the people

As a movement, The Tea Party is not a political party nor is looking to form a third political party any time soon. The Tea Party movement, is instead, about reforming all political parties and government so that the core principles of our Founding Fathers become, once again, the foundation upon which America stands.

11
posted on 06/25/2012 2:34:40 PM PDT
by Linda Frances
(Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness)

To me, the Tea "Party" was, is, and ever shall be a hostile takeover of the Republican Party.

I agree, but I would add "a hostile takeover by the party's own rank and file". The GOP has a schizophrenic quality due to the fact that the party professionals and the party's rank and file only barely agree philosophically. The party professionals tolerate the membership because they need their votes, but they don't respect them. The membership have put up with this for decades, expecting things to get better next election, and finally lost patience after seeing conservatives frozen out in 2008, and O steam-rolling the country with the GOP establishment unable to offer any resistance whatever.

Most press discussions seem to miss this: the Tea Party is essentially the GOP members tired of being used. Their anger was directed as much at the GOP establishment as much as it ever was at Obama and his gang. We expect Dems to be against us; we're tired of having to fight our own party establishment too.

Once again, the SLIMES validate my tagline. Thank.
Virtually EVERY Tea Party follower I know is in a situation known as “gainfully employed”. Those momentarily “out of work” are busy seeking their next job.
Tea Partiers have no time for sit-ins, camp-ins, sleep-ins, disruptive protests, professional whining, screeching impossible demands, and hating the world.
Their idea of “activism” is putting a mark on a sheet of paper, called the BALLOT.
I believe the PEN is mightier than the LOUD MOUTH.

A slumbering giant has been roused, and is by no means ready to fall back into sleep. Too much more to do, and only a limited window of time in which to get it done.

The activism need not be loud or flashy, it need only pass from one to another, and keep the faith that the right thing will be done.

And if by some mischance, the effort to turn back the tide of lawless behavior at high levels fails for now, just keep on taking down the record of the high crimes and misdemeanors, until such time as these matters may be dealt with in a summary manner.

17
posted on 06/25/2012 2:41:05 PM PDT
by alloysteel
(Fear and intimidation work. At least on the short term.)

Tea Party members share similar core principles supporting the United States Constitution as the Founders intended, such as:  Limited federal government  Individual freedoms  Personal responsibility  Free markets  Returning political power to the states and the people

You describe my political philosophy exactly. That, and most of the party rank and file I would like to believe.

The party professionals, though, are content to be Discount Dems; always ready to pass the Dem agenda, just cutting the rate of growth a couple percent. I'm tired of our party being the Discount Dem Party. Whatever they're for, we just want to knock a couple of percentage points off the rate of increase. Thats it. Don't ask the GOP grandees to get into any deep discussion beyond tax cuts. Ask them for a moral or philosophical argument and you just embarrass them.

The NYT is so out of touch with anyone outside their teeny 20 percent nasty radicals located on the coasts, they can’t understand the Tea Party and can’t find it. What was that ruckus that derailed us and who are those tea bagging whitey people!

I would expect that sort of coverage from a local paper like the Times.

Since he assumed the helm in 1988 (his run should be about done soon), "Pinchy" Sulzberger has stuffed the staff with homosexuals and other deviants, swung the editorial policy over hard-left, and done everything he can in 24 years to turn the New York Times into the countercultural weekly of Soho, Greenwich Village, and TriBeCa.

The most pampered cockatoos in North America crap on fresh-daily copies of The New York Times.

If anything, Romney represents the backlash from the GOP-E against the Tea Party. They “played” us in the primaries, pitting all the Conservatives against each other while their boy grabbed the nomination by hook or by crook. The next time, we need to be ready before the primaries even get started, and have one viable candidate vetted and selected by US to rally around. Then, we need to stick with that choice, no matter who else throws their hat into the primaries because they think they see an opening.

If the Tea Party can do that, we’ll never see another Bush/McCain/Romney nominee from the Republicans again.

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